Office of Affirmative Action, Compliance and Diversity

The City College of New York, as part of the City University of New York, is proud that our students represent a variety of cultures, backgrounds and ideas. CUNY's goals include: continuing commitment to workforce diversity and development, and in keeping with this principle, CCNY strives to be a genuinely inclusive community, one where those with differing backgrounds and allegiances feel valued, and one where civility, respect and reasoned debate prevail.

Mission

The office is responsible for ensuring that the City College complies with University and college policies, as well as federal, state, and local laws pertaining to affirmative action and equal employment opportunity To fulfill the Office's mission, the Director and/or his designee serve as the College's 504/ADA Coordinator and the Title IX Coordinator. The Director also serves on the Sexual Harassment Awareness and Intake Committee, the Higher Education Officer Screening Committee, the Presidential Advisory Committee on Affirmative Action and is the College's representative on the University's Council of Affirmative Action/EEO/ Compliance and Diversity Officers.

Affirmative Action

The affirmative action policies and practices of City College are part of the University's goal to provide equal employment opportunity and prevent discrimination. Such policies and practices of City College apply to persons in federally protected groups, including women, people with disabilities, Vietnam Era veterans, Blacks, Hispanics, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and American Indian/Alaskan Natives. In addition, the University and City College have designated Italian Americans as a protected group for whom these policies apply [Statutes Enforced by AAO]. To that end, the Office continuously reviews policies and procedures pertaining to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and non-discrimination. The Office monitors and advises search committees on search and screen procedures; and develops and monitors the College's progress and diligence in pursuing goals set forth in the Affirmative Action Plan. Documents and forms related to the search process are available at the Office located at 160 Convent Avenue, Administration Building 214 or online. Information on the search approval process is available at Human Resources located at 160 Convent Avenue, Shepard Hall, RM 50

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is illegal. It is a form of sex discrimination in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and of the official policy of The City University of New York, which was adopted by the Board of Trustees in 1995 and revised in 2005. The policy prohibits sexual harassment of faculty, staff, and students:

"It is the policy of The City University of New York to prohibit harassment of its employees or students on the basis of sex. This policy is related to and is in conformity with the equal opportunity policy of the University to recruit, employ, retain and promote employees without regard to sex, age, race, color or creed. Prompt investigation of allegations will be made to ascertain the veracity of complaints, and appropriate corrective action will be taken.

"It is a violation of policy for any member of the University community to engage in sexual harassment. It is also a violation of policy for any member of the University community to take action against an individual for reporting sexual harassment."

City College adheres to CUNY policy [CUNY's Policy and Procedure Against Sexual Harassment] and condemns all forms of sexual intimidation and exploitation. For the purposes of this policy, sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other intimidating verbal or written communications or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This behavior constitutes sexual harassment when:

Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic standing;

Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting that individual;

Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment.

To implement CUNY's policy, City College created a Sexual Harassment Awareness and Intake Committee. The Committee is responsible for reviewing all complaints of sexual harassment; and for making efforts to resolve those complaints informally, if possible. When informal resolution is not possible, the Committee coordinator and/or deputy coordinator will fully investigate the complaint and report the results of the investigation to the College president (and dean of students, if the accused is a student), if appropriate. Any student or other member of City College may report allegations of sexual harassment to any member of the Committee. The complaint will be promptly investigated and will be handled as confidentially as possible. Retaliation against complaints is specifically prohibited. Students, faculty or staff who are found, following applicable disciplinary proceedings, to have violated the CUNY Policy Against Sexual Harassment are subject to various penalties, including termination of employment and permanent dismissal from the University.

Sexual Harassment and Assault Awareness and Intake Committee Members:

Questions regarding Sexual Harassment Prevention workshops may be referred to Michele A. Baptiste. Complaints or allegations of sexual harassment may be reported to Michele A. Baptiste, or any one on the committee.

Online Sexual Harassment Prevention Training:

The City University provides an online workshop regarding the prevention of sexual harassment.

Complaints of Discrimination

The City College and The City University of New York are committed to addressing discrimination complaints promptly, consistently and fairly. Any City College employee, student, applicant for admission or employment or other participant in the College's programs or activities who believes he or she has been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, color, disability, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status may file a complaint in writing with the Office of Diversity and Compliance using the Discrimination Complaint Form by e-mail to the Dean of Diversity, Michele A. Baptiste mbaptiste@ccny.cuny.edu, or by stopping in the EEO Compliance office in the Wille Administration building, room 212.

The City College of New York does not discriminate against any student on the basis of pregnancy or related conditions. Absences due to medical conditions relating to pregnancy will be excused for as long as deemed medically necessary by a student's doctor and students will be given the opportunity to make up missed work. Students needing assistance can seek accommodations from the Office of Accessibility in NAC 1/218, or by calling the Interim 504/ADA Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator, Michele A. Baptiste at 212.650.6310, room 212 in the Administration building.

Title IX Coordinator

Michele A. Baptiste is the college's Title IX coordinator, overseeing the institutions efforts toward ensuring that college programs, policies and procedures comply with Title IX as it pertains to gender discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, sexual assault, and athletics. Ms. Baptiste's office is in the Administration building room 212, and her phone number is 212.650.6310.

504/ADA Coordinator

Michele A. Baptiste is the interim 504/ADA coordinator. Ms. Baptiste is charged with ensuring that college programs, policies and procedures comply with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 501 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to persons with disabilities. She is reachable by phone at 212.650.6310 or in person in the Wille Administration building, room 212.